Compartmented portable case

ABSTRACT

A portable case containing a main large compartment adjacent to the hinged sides of the main body of the case and the cover therefor, and a pair of smaller symmetrical compartments on the opposite side with a gap therebetween. The handle for the case is mounted within the confines of the gap so that a convenient hold thereon may be had while permitting the case to be handled or stacked without the protrusion of the handle beyond the outlines of the case, thereby protecting the handle against damage.

Umted States Patent 91 v [111 3,739,886 Kertzman June 19, 1973 [54]COMPARTMENTED PORTAIILE CASE D21 1,143 5/1968 Lawson D875 Inventor:Norman K ma 8802 S da 838,952 12/1906 Crablll 190/57 X Drive, S'lverSrin Md. 0910 1 p g 2 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton [22] Filed: July19,1972 Anorney-Samuel Lebowitz [21] Appl. No.: 273,286

Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] continuafiomimpan of08373 Jan 21 A portable case containing a main large compartment 1971abandone adjacent to the hinged sides of the main body of the case andthe cover therefor, and a. pair of smaller sym-v 52 us. Cl 190/49,190/51, 190/57 metrical compartments on the pp Side with a gap [51] Int.Cl B65d 13/04 therebetween- The handle for the ease is mounted [58]Field of Search 190/49, 50, 51, 52, wihin the confines of the p 50 aconvenient held 190/57, 58 R, 58 A, 58 B, 58 C; D87/5 thereon may be hadwhile permitting the case to be handled or stacked without theprotrusion of the han- 5 References Cited dle beyond the outlines of thecase, thereby protecting UNITED STATES PATENTS the handle againstdamage. D194,339 l/l963 Harty D87/5 16 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures I ii'7' i [I I7 Hi PAIENIEU Jun 1 9 ma F ax COMPARTMENTED PORTABLE CA'SEThis is a continuation-impart of my application Ser. No. 108,373, filed.Ian. 21, 1971, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a compartmentedportable case, andmoreparticularly to one providing both large and small compartments for thesegregation of differently sized items. i v

It is the object of the present invention to provide a portable case ofrugged and economical construction and which may assume different formsand sizes so that it may be adapted to the fabrication of attache casesand luggage units serving many different functional purposes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable case whichis provided with a main storage compartment anda pair of symmetricallydisposeds maller compartments adjacent thereto with a gap between thelatter for the reception of a handlefor the case within said gap. Thehandle may be grasped comfortably at a point of balance of the case'andis disposed at such a level that it does not protrude beyond theboundaries of the case,.so that the latter may be stacked ortransportedwithout possibility of injury to the handle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable case inwhich the'compartments are framed from sheet material, the components ofwhich may be integrated easily to reenforce and brace the entireassembly, which results in a portable case ofli'ght weight and goodstrength.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2--2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3is avertical sectional view alongline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3b is an enlarged view of the portion indicated in dotted linesin'FlG- 3 and designated 3b;

FIG. 4' isa vertical sectional view alongline 44 of FIG; 2;

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are enlarged views of the portions circled in FIG.4; and designated, respectively, 4a, 4b and-4c; V

FIG. 5 is a sectional; view of the upper portionof' the casewith avariant'outline of the gap from that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is aiplan view of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 isa view correspondingto FIG. 5with a handle of different shape'mounted withinthe central gap;

FIG..8 is a plan view of FIG. 7; FIG. 9is a sectional viewcorrespondingto the upper portion of FIG. 2 with a different embodimentof handle mounted within the, gap; and.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of FIG. 9.

In the drawingsare showndifferent embodimentsof portable cases andmounting handles therefor, all of which have thecommoncharacteristicthat compartments of different sizes are. provided in eachof the stored or transported without interference from any handleprotruding therefrom. The small compartments constituting part of theinterior of the portable case, complement the main storage compartmentso that large items may be packed in the large compartment, leaving thesmall compartments for the storage and segregation of smaller items, sothat they may be easily located for use.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the main storage compartment Sin its simplest form, is formed of a band of sheet material which may beof metal, plastic sheeting, plywood or the like, which is shaped into arectangular form by the hinged wall 1, from which extends the lateralwalls 2 and 3 to define the length of the case. Wall 4 is bent inwardlyfrom lateral wall 2, and wall 5 is bent inwardly from lateral wall 3, tocomplete the rectangular outline and to fix the width of the storagecompartment, with a break-joint at the point 6.

The smaller compartments may be fabricated from a second auxiliary bandof sheet material which is comprised of auxiliary wall portion 11 injuxtaposition with wall 4, with the second auxiliary wall portion 12extending transversely thereto in a plane constituting an extension ofthe lateral wall 2, wherefrom it is bent transversely into a thirdauxiliary wall portion 13 up to the gap G wherefrom is bent in are-entrant direction, at an obtuse angle a into a fourth auxiliary wallportion 14, and thereafter to portion 15 in juxtaposition with theinnermost portions of walls 4 and 5 wherefrom it extends into walls 16,l7, l8 and 19 inallochiral relation to wall portions l4, l3, l2 and 11,respectively.

The wall portions of the main storage compartments 4 and 5 may beintegrated to the wall portions 11 and 19 and medial portion 15 of theauxiliary band, in any desired manner by gluing, bolting, or if thebands forming the chambers are constituted] by metal, by resistancewelding. Thus, if the case is fabricated from steel or aluminumsheeting, a pair of spaced welds at each of said portions are veryeffective.

The resultant assembly provides the symmetrical compartments C and C oneach side of the gap G in balanced relation to the central median of thestorage compartment. The handle H may be disposed in this gap so thatthe same does not protrude beyond the walls 13 and 17 of the smallercompartments which are opposite the wall 1 whereat pintle hinges P areprovided for the purpose of affixing a cover or lid L to the mainstorage compartment.

The area bounded by the outer peripheral portions of the main andstorage compartment may be closed by a rigid plate 20 of the same ordifferent material and are fastened to the peripheral bands of thestorage compartment by corner angle or trihedlral fasteners or stays F.Alternatively, the production of the frame of the portable case in themanner described above, lends itself to the'application of soft walls ofplastic, leather or the like sheeting to the outer face of the portablecase or luggage item, as is well known in the art.

The coveror lid L may be of identical congruous construction as the mainstorage compartment S, and

, may be constituted by wall 1' which is hinged to the wall 1 by hingesP, and from which extends the lateral walls 2' and 3 as well as theinwardly extending portions 4' and 5'.

The auxiliary band for forming the auxiliary compartments may also beassembled and joined to the band defining the main storage compartmentin the same manner as described in connection with the latter, to defineouter walls 13' and 17 disposed in the same plane as outer walls 13 and17 with the gap 15' therebetween.

Transverse wall 30 of the lid L may be connected to the outer edges ofthe auxiliary band of sheet material and the opposite free edges of theband are offset as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to provide aweatherproof seal at the meeting edges of the main and cover sections.

As is well known in the art, the interior of the frame in both the mainstorage section and the lid L may be lined with any suitable material,and the outer surface thereof may be-covered with any ornamental sheetmaterial of plastic, fabric or the like.

Variations may be made in the construction of the portable case byvarying the contours of the band form ing the auxiliary compartments.Thus, in FIGS. 5 to 8, the outer walls 13 and 17 are bent at rightangles to the adjoining walls 34 and 36, respectively, which merge withthe wall 35 in juxtaposition with the external surface of the banddefining the main storage compartment. The handle 40 extends between thevertical walls 34 and 36, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and in FIGS. 7 and8, a yoke-shaped handle 42 may be mounted for pivotal movement onbrackets 43 affixed to the horizontal base wall 35 within the gap.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the compartments are of trapezoidal contour, similarto that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, but in this case, a curved handle 49extends between brackets 44 mounted on walls 14 and 15 to provide aconvenient hand-hold for the portable case. However, in all instances,the handle, whatever form it assumes, is disposed in the gap G withoutprotruding beyond the outer boundaries of the portable case, and thesymmetrical compartments on each side of the gap result in awell-balanced assembly.

The advantages of the invention may be realized by varying the outlinesof the portable case from the rectangular contours shown in thedrawings. For example, the lateral walls 2 and 3 may be curved convexly,or the reverse, to obtain special esthetic outlines. The same is true ofthe outer walls 13 and 17 which need not be parallel to the walls 1 and1' of the side of the case which are hinged together.

While the drawings show a case in which the lid L is fabricated in thesame manner as the main body of the case, to provide compartmentstherein, the advantages of the invention may be realized if thecompartments are provided only in the main body of the case and the lidis without such, being merely coextensive with the peripheral boundariesof the main portion of the case.

While it is advantageous for the auxiliary band for forming thecompartments C and C' to be of a unitary strip of material, departuresfrom this construction may be made without sacrificing the benefits ofthe invention. Thus, the auxiliary band may be fabricated in two parts,one for forming the walls 11, 12 and 13, 14 and part of wall 15, and theother for forming the remaining part of wall 15 and walls 16, 17, 18 and19. Preferably, the interruption in the wall portion 15 is staggeredwith respect to the break-joint 6 between wall portions 4 and 5 of themain storage compartment.

Other structural changes may be made within the purview of the inventionas defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A frame for a portable case containing a-main storage compartmentadjacent to the hinged side of the case and a pair of smallercompartments on the opposite side of the case with a gap between thelatter for mounting a handle for the case within said gap, said framecomprising a. a continuous band of sheet material bent into a closedperimetric form comprised of two main walls displaced from each other adistance corresponding to the width of said storage compartment, andmain lateral walls extending between the ends of said walls at adistance corresponding substantially to the length of said storagecompartment, and

b. a second continuous band of sheet material bent into a closedperimetric form to form at least one of said smaller compartments havingone auxiliary wall joined to the external face of said band on said wallof said storage compartment remote from the hinged side of said case andadjacent to one of the main lateral walls, a second auxiliary wallextending transversely from said first auxiliary wall to form acontinuation of said last-mentioned one of said main lateral walls, athird auxiliary wall extending from said second auxiliary wall in aplane substantially parallel to that of said first-mentioned auxiliarywall, and a fourth auxiliary wall bent into reentrant form intoengagement with said firstmentioned external face of said firstcontinuous band and into juxtaposition therewith at said gap, whereatthe same is joined to said last-mentioned band.

2. A frame as set forth in claim 1, including a substantially rigidplate of sheet material joined to the periphery of said bands at oneedge thereof to form the transverse wall of said storage compartmentwith the opposite edge of said bands being free.

3. A frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fourth auxiliary wallextends at an obtuse angle relative to said third auxiliary wall to forma small compartment of trapezoidal shape.

4. A frame asset forth in claim 1, wherein said fourth auxiliary wallextends perpendicularly from said third auxiliary wall to form a smallcompartment of rectangular shape.

5. A frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the peripheral portions ofthe free edges of said bands are offset for forming a weather-proof sealthereat.

6. A frame for a portable case as set forth in claim 1, to form the mainportion of the case and a congruouslyshaped frame formed from continuousbands of material of lesser width to constitute a cover for said mainframe hinged together at said first-mentioned side of the case.

7. A frame as set forth in claim 1, including a layer of lining materialon the inner surface of said frame and a layer of wear-resistantflexible sheet material on the outer surface of said frame.

8. A frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein both of said smallercompartments are formed from said second continuous band of sheetmaterial by the continuation of said band at said gap into allochirallybent relation identical to said first small compartment and adjacent tothe other main lateral wall.

9.-A frame as set forth in claim 8, wherein said continuous bands ofsheet material are formed of sheet metal and the juxtaposed walls of themain and smaller compartments defined thereby are integrated with weldedjoints therebetween.

10. A frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer perimeters ofsaid bands of sheet material which define the outer boundaries of saidmain storage compartment and two smaller compartments define asubstantially rectangular outline.

l1.-A portable case comprising a. a main storage section and a coversection therefor hinged together along their juxtaposed edges at oneside of said sections with congruous lateral edges on each sectionextending transversely from the opposite ends of said juxtaposed edges,a pair of compartments of relatively smaller crosssection but ofsubstantially the same depth as said main storage section on the side ofthe latter opposite the hinged side,

c. said compartments being of identical volume and spaced equidistantlyfrom the transverse medial axis of said portable case to define a gaptherebetween,

d. said cover section being of similar peripheral outline as said mainstorage section including the gap at the medial portion of the edgethereof opposite the hinged edges, and

e. a handle for said case mounted on said main storage section at saidgap within the bounds of said compartments.

12. A portable case as set forth in claim 11, wherein the lateral edgesof said main storage and cover sections extend substantiallyperpendicularly relative to said juxtaposed edge thereof, to outline theouter lateral walls of said main storage section and smallercompartments adjacent thereto in said last-mentioned section, thecorresponding lateral edges in the cover section also extendingsubstantially perpendicularly relative to said juxtaposed edge thereof,and co-planar outer edges on said main storage and cover sectionsextending inwardly from said lateral edges thereon as far as said gapand merging with the reentrant walls of the latter.

13. A portable case as set forth in claim 12, wherein saidlast-mentioned co-planar outer edges and reentrant walls are disposedsubstantially perpendicularly to each other.

14. A portable case as set forth in claim 12, wherein saidlast-mentioned co-planar outer edges and reentrant walls extend at anobtuse angle relative to each other at said gap.

15. A portable case comprising a. a main storage section and a coversection therefor hinged together along their juxtaposed edges at oneside of said sections with congruous lateral edges on each sectionextending transversely from the opposite ends of said juxtaposed edges,

b. a pair of compartments of relatively smaller crosssection but ofsubstantially the same depth as said main storage section on the side ofthe latter opposite the hinged side,

c. said compartments being of identical volume and spaced equidistantlyfrom the transverse medial axis of said portable case to define a gaptherebetween,

d. a pair of auxiliary compartments in said cover section ofsubstantially the same depth as the latter and of similarcross-sectional dimensions as said first-mentioned compartments andlocated similarly to the latter relative to said medial axis and thehinged side thereof to form a gap therebetween of the same size as saidfirst-mentioned gap,

e. said cover section with the auxiliary compartments adapted to overliethe main storage section with the first-mentioned compartments in theclosed condition of said portable case to form a large storage chamberadjacent to the hinged side of the portable case and a pair of identicalsmall chambers beyond the large chamber adjacent to the opposite lateraledges of said portable case with a gap at the center of the case, and

f. a handle for said portable case mounted in said gap within the boundsof said compartments.

16. A portable case as set forth in claim 15, wherein the lateral edgesof said main storage and cover sections extend substantiallyperpendicularly relative to said juxtaposed edges, to outline the outerlateral walls of said large and small chambers, with the outer edges ofsaid small chambers opposite the hinged side extending inwardlysubstantially in a common plane to define the outermost walls of saidsmall chambers adjacent to said gap.

1. A frame for a portable case containing a main storage compartmentadjacent to the hinged side of the case and a pair of smallercompartments on the opposite side of the case with a gap between thelatter for mounting a handle for the case within said gap, said framecomprising a. a continuous band of sheet material bent into a closedperimetric form comprised of two main walls displaced from each other adistance corresponding to the width of said storage compartment, andmain lateral walls extending between the ends of said walls at adistance corresponding substantially to the length of said storagecompartment, and b. a second continuous band of sheet material bent intoa closed perimetric form to form at least one of said smallercompartments having one auxiliary wall joined to the external face ofsaid band on said wall of said storage compartment remote from thehinged side of said case and adjacent to one of the main lateral walls,a second auxiliary wall extending transversely from said first auxiliarywall to form a continuation of said last-mentioned one of said mainlateral walls, a third auxiliary wall extending from said secondauxiliary wall in a plane substantially parallel to that of saidfirst-mentioned auxiliary wall, and a fourth auxiliary wall bent intoreentrant form into engagement with said firstmentioned external face ofsaid first continuous band and into juxtaposition therewith at said gap,whereat the same is joined to said last-mentioned band.
 2. A frame asset forth in claim 1, including a substantially rigid plate of sheetmaterial joined to the periphery of said bands at one edge thereof toform the transverse wall of said storage compartment with the oppositeedge of said bands being free.
 3. A frame as set forth in claim 1,wherein said fourth auxiliary wall extends at an obtuse angle relativeto said third auxiliary wall to form a small compartment of trapezoidalshape.
 4. A frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fourth auxiliarywall extends perpendicularly from said third auxiliary wall to form asmall compartment of rectangular shape.
 5. A frame as set forth in claim1, wherein the peripheral portions of the free edges of said bands areoffset for forming a weather-proof seal thereat.
 6. A frame for aportable case as set forth in claim 1, to form the main portion of thecase and a congruously-shaped frame formed from continuous bands ofmaterial of lesser width to constitute a cover for said main framehinged together at said first-mentioned side of the case.
 7. A frame asset forth in claim 1, including a layer of lining material on the innersurface of said frame and a layer of wear-resistant flexible sheetmaterial on the outer surface of said frame.
 8. A frame as set forth inclaim 1, wherein both of said smaller compartments are formed from saidsecond continuous band of sheet material by the continuation of saidband at said gap into allochirally bent relation identical to said firstsmall compartment and adjacent to the other main lateral wall.
 9. Aframe as set forth in claim 8, wherein said continuous bands of sheetmaterial are formed of sheet metal and the juxtaposed walls of the mainand smaller compartments defined thereby are integrated with weldedjoints therebetween.
 10. A frame as set forth in claim 1, wherein theouter perimeters of said bands of sheet material which define the outerboundaries of said main storage compartment and two smaller compartmentsdefine a substantially rectangular outline.
 11. A portable casecomprising a. a main storage section and a cover section therefor hingedtogether along their juxtaposed edges at one side of said sections withcongruous lateral edges on each section extending transversely from theopposite ends of said juxtaposed edges, b. a pair of compartments ofrelatively smaller cross-section but of substantially the same depth assaid main storage section on the side of the latter opposite the hingedside, c. said compartments being of identical volume and spacedequidistantly from the transverse medial axis of said portable case todefine a gap therebetween, d. said cover section being of similarperipheral outline as said main storage section including the gap at themedial portion of the edge thereof opposite the hinged edges, and e. ahandle for said case mounted on said main storage section at said gapwithin the bounds of said compartments.
 12. A portable case as set forthin claim 11, wherein the lateral edges of said main storage and coversections extend substantially perpendicularly relative to saidjuxtaposed edge thereof, to outline the outer lateral walls of said mainstorage section and smaller compartments adjacent thereto in saidlast-mentioned section, the corresponding lateral edges in the coversection also extending substantially perpendicularly relative to saidjuxtapOsed edge thereof, and co-planar outer edges on said main storageand cover sections extending inwardly from said lateral edges thereon asfar as said gap and merging with the reentrant walls of the latter. 13.A portable case as set forth in claim 12, wherein said last-mentionedco-planar outer edges and reentrant walls are disposed substantiallyperpendicularly to each other.
 14. A portable case as set forth in claim12, wherein said last-mentioned co-planar outer edges and reentrantwalls extend at an obtuse angle relative to each other at said gap. 15.A portable case comprising a. a main storage section and a cover sectiontherefor hinged together along their juxtaposed edges at one side ofsaid sections with congruous lateral edges on each section extendingtransversely from the opposite ends of said juxtaposed edges, b. a pairof compartments of relatively smaller cross-section but of substantiallythe same depth as said main storage section on the side of the latteropposite the hinged side, c. said compartments being of identical volumeand spaced equidistantly from the transverse medial axis of saidportable case to define a gap therebetween, d. a pair of auxiliarycompartments in said cover section of substantially the same depth asthe latter and of similar cross-sectional dimensions as saidfirst-mentioned compartments and located similarly to the latterrelative to said medial axis and the hinged side thereof to form a gaptherebetween of the same size as said first-mentioned gap, e. said coversection with the auxiliary compartments adapted to overlie the mainstorage section with the first-mentioned compartments in the closedcondition of said portable case to form a large storage chamber adjacentto the hinged side of the portable case and a pair of identical smallchambers beyond the large chamber adjacent to the opposite lateral edgesof said portable case with a gap at the center of the case, and f. ahandle for said portable case mounted in said gap within the bounds ofsaid compartments.
 16. A portable case as set forth in claim 15, whereinthe lateral edges of said main storage and cover sections extendsubstantially perpendicularly relative to said juxtaposed edges, tooutline the outer lateral walls of said large and small chambers, withthe outer edges of said small chambers opposite the hinged sideextending inwardly substantially in a common plane to define theoutermost walls of said small chambers adjacent to said gap.